Section 8 in Reading, PA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Reading, PA metro area (CBSA 39740). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,086 | $977 – $1,195 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,237 | $1,113 – $1,361 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,575 | $1,418 – $1,733 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,937 | $1,743 – $2,131 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,085 | $1,877 – $2,294 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Reading, PA covers up to $1,575 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,418–$1,733.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Reading, PA
2 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the County of Berks
Reading, PA · PA071 · 711 HCV units
- Status unknown
Reading Housing Authority
Reading, PA · PA009 · 645 HCV units
Source-of-income law in PA
A local ordinance in this jurisdiction protects voucher holders from source-of-income discrimination, even though PA has no statewide protection.
Phila. Fair Practices Ordinance · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Reading, PA property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.